1900-1924 Racial Tensions activities Created by Michael Young, former History Department Chair, Omaha Burke High School grade level page DISCUSSION HS 2 1a Population Shifts DISCUSSION HS 3 1b Unrest DISCUSSION HS 4 1c Political Machine PHOTO ANALYSIS HS 5 2a Mayor Dahlman WRITTEN DOCUMENT ANALYSIS HS 6 2b Headlines PHOTO & CARTOON ANALYSIS HS 7 2c The Army LESSON PLAN 8 HS 8 L1 Omaha Race Riot of 1919 • Resources 17 Nebraska Department of Education A1 • Content Area Standards 1900-1924 Racial Tensions Population Shifts, Unrest & Activity Grade Level 1a The Political Machine HS activity Discussion Activity 1a: Population Shifts Have students read the Racial Tensions section of the 1900-1924 timeline in Nebraska Studies: http://nebraskastudies.org/1900-1924/racial-tensions/ The population of Nebraska in 1919 was approximately 1,300,000 people. Of that number, approximately 13,000 were African Americans. • How many people living in the state of Nebraska were not African American? • How many people lived in Nebraska in the year 2000? • How many more people lived in Nebraska in 2000 than in 1919? • Why do you think the population of Nebraska has not increased very much from 1919 to 2000? The population of Omaha was approximately 191,000 in 1919. Of that number, approximately 10,315 were African American. • How many people living in Omaha in 1919 were not African American? • How many people living in Omaha in 2000 were African American and how many were not? • What were living conditions like for African Americans in Nebraska in 1919 compared to today? Nebraska Department of Education Content Area Standards Social Studies SS HS.1.1; SS HS.3.5; SS HS.4.1; SS HS.4.2; SS HS.4.3; SS HS.4.4; SS HS.4.5 Language Arts Standard 4.1.4; Standard 4.2.4; Standard 4.2.5 | Standard 8.1.2; Standard 8.2.4; Standard 8.2.5. 2 1900-1924 Racial Tensions Population Shifts, Unrest & Activity Grade Level 1b The Political Machine HS activity Discussion Activity 1b: Unrest Have students read the Racial Tensions section of the 1900-1924 timeline in Nebraska Studies: http://nebraskastudies.org/1900-1924/racial-tensions/ How did each of the following contribute to the social unrest in Omaha in 1919? • Veterans returning to Omaha from World War I • Race riots in St. Louis and Chicago • Strikes in Omaha • Conflicts over the issues of prohibition and woman suffrage • Migration of blacks from the South to the North • Yellow journalism For older students, add these parameters to the discussion: • End of the Reconstruction Period in the South • Use of strikebreakers in the packing plants • Yellow journalism • The conclusion of World War I Nebraska Department of Education Content Area Standards Social Studies SS HS.1.1; SS HS.3.5; SS HS.4.1; SS HS.4.2; SS HS.4.3; SS HS.4.4; SS HS.4.5 Language Arts Standard 4.1.4; Standard 4.2.4; Standard 4.2.5 | Standard 8.1.2; Standard 8.2.4; Standard 8.2.5. 3 1900-1924 Racial Tensions Population Shifts, Unrest & Activity Grade Level 1c The Political Machine HS activity Discussion Activity 1c: The Political Machine Have students read the Racial Tensions section of the 1900-1924 timeline in Nebraska Studies: http://nebraskastudies.org/1900-1924/racial-tensions/dennisons-political-machine/ • What is a political machine? • Who were Tom Dennison and Edward P. Smith? • Some critics of Dennison suggested he encouraged people in Omaha to engage in the race riot of 1919. Why would Dennison be likely to support the riot? Nebraska Department of Education Content Area Standards Social Studies SS HS.1.1; SS HS.3.5; SS HS.4.1; SS HS.4.2; SS HS.4.3; SS HS.4.4; SS HS.4.5 Language Arts Standard 4.1.4; Standard 4.2.4; Standard 4.2.5 | Standard 8.1.2; Standard 8.2.4; Standard 8.2.5. 4 1900-1924 Racial Tensions Activity Grade Level 2a Mayor Dahlman, Headlines, & the Army HS activity Photograph Analysis Activity 2a: Mayor Dahlman Have students analyze the photograph of Mayor James C. Dahlman holding the large key on the Dennison’s Political Machine page of the Racial Tensions section of the 1900-1924 timeline in Nebraska Studies: http://nebraskastudies.org/1900-1924/racial-tensions/dennisons-political-machine/ Use the National Archives Photograph Analysis Worksheet in the Resources section at the end of this document to help answer the following questions: • What is written on the key? • What is written on the sidewalk and steps? • Who were Tom Dennison and James C. Dahlman? • What is Dahlman’s relationship to Tom Dennison? • What do you think the author is suggesting about Dahlman’s character? Do you agree or disagree with the author’s conclusion? HINT: For a larger version of the photo, type “Dahlman” in the Search box in the top left corner of Nebraska Studies, and then click on Primary Source. Nebraska Department of Education Content Area Standards Social Studies SS HS.1.1; SS HS.3.5; SS HS.4.1; SS HS.4.2; SS HS.4.3; SS HS.4.4; SS HS.4.5 Language Arts Standard 12.1.1; Standard 12.1.2; Standard 12.3.1 5 1900-1924 Racial Tensions Activity Grade Level 2b Mayor Dahlman, Headlines, & the Army HS activity Written Document Analysis Activity2b: Headlines Have students analyze the copy of the headlines of the Omaha World-Herald newspaper dated September 29, 1919 on the Who Was to Blame? page of the Racial Tensions section of the 1900-1924 timeline in Nebraska Studies; http://nebraskastudies.org/1900-1924/racial-tensions/a-horrible-lynching/ Use the National Archives Written Document Analysis Worksheet in the Resources section at the end of this document to help answer the following questions: • Is this an example of yellow journalism? Why or why not? • What words listed in the headlines are examples of emotionalism? • What can you infer about the author’s feelings about the riot based on the terminology used? Explain. HINT: For a larger version of the newspaper headlines, type “riot headlines” in the Search box in the top left corner of Nebraska Studies, and then click on Primary Source. Nebraska Department of Education Content Area Standards Social Studies SS HS.1.1; SS HS.3.5; SS HS.4.1; SS HS.4.2; SS HS.4.3; SS HS.4.4; SS HS.4.5 Language Arts Standard 12.1.1; Standard 12.1.2; Standard 12.3.1 6 1900-1924 Racial Tensions Activity Grade Level 2c Mayor Dahlman, Headlines, & the Army HS activity Photograph & Cartoon Analysis Activity 2c: The Army Have students compare and contrast the photograph of the soldiers on guard at 24th and Lake Streets and the political cartoon titled “Real Protection” on the The Army Restores Order page of the Racial Tensions section of the 1900-1924 timeline in Nebraska Studies; http://nebraskastudies.org/1900-1924/racial-tensions/the-army-restores-order/ Use the National Archives Photograph Analysis and Cartoon Analysis or Interpreting Political Cartoons Worksheets in the Resources section at the end of this document to help answer the following questions: • What are your first impressions after viewing the photograph of the solders? What was the purpose of bringing in troops after the riot was over? • What view of the federal troops is the author of the cartoon titled “Real Protection” projecting? Do you agree or disagree with the cartoonist’s assessment? • Did federal troops provide any real protection for the citizens of Omaha? Explain. HINT: For a larger version of the newspaper headlines, type “riot headlines” in the Search box in the top left corner of Nebraska Studies, and then click on Primary Source. Nebraska Department of Education Content Area Standards Social Studies SS HS.1.1; SS HS.3.5; SS HS.4.1; SS HS.4.2; SS HS.4.3; SS HS.4.4; SS HS.4.5 Language Arts Standard 12.1.1; Standard 12.1.2; Standard 12.3.1 7 1900-1924 Racial Tensions LESSON PLAN Activity Grade Level L1 Omaha Race Riot of 1919 HS This lesson plan was funded in part by the Cooper Foundation, Abel Foundation, and the Nebraska Humanities Council. Lesson Objectives 1. Students will develop skills to analyze primary documents and images. 2. Students will evaluate the causes and results of the Omaha race riot of 1919. 3. Students will identify and analyze the key personalities involved in the Omaha race riot of 1919. 4. Students will assess the important role played by “yellow journalism” in the Omaha race riot of 1919. Nebraska Department of Education Content Area Standards Social Studies SS HS.1.1; SS HS.3.5; SS HS.4.1; SS HS.4.2; SS HS.4.3; SS HS.4.4; SS HS.4.5 Language Arts Standard 8.1.1; Standard 8.1.2; Standard 8.1.3; Standard 8.1.5; Standard 8.1.6; Standard 8.1.7; Standard 8.2.2; Standard 8.2.3; Standard 8.2.4; Standard 8.2.5; Standard 8.3.2 | Standard 12.1.1; Standard 12.1.3; Standard 12.2.1; Standard 12.2.2; Standard 12.2.4; Standard 12.2.5; Standard 12.3.2. 8 1900-1924 Racial Tensions LESSON PLAN Activity Grade Level L1 Omaha Race Riot of 1919 HS This lesson plan was funded in part by the Cooper Foundation, Abel Foundation, and the Nebraska Humanities Council. Introduction Introduce the lesson by writing the following quotes on the chalkboard, show them on an overhead projector, or make handouts from the students from the larger version in the Resources section at the end of this document: “Black Beast First Sticks-up Couple.